The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) made good on its threat to stage a virtual strike on May Day, effectively shutting down all U.S. and Canadian West Coast ports. The one-day “work-stoppage,” said ILWU officials, is to protest the war in Iraq and comes at a time when the union is in the middle of contract talks with the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA).
For shippers, however, the event may signal that more trouble lies ahead. “Longshore workers are standing-down on the job and standing up for America,” said ILWU president Bob McEllrath. “We’re supporting the troops and telling politicians in Washington that it’s time to end the war in Iraq.”…read on
There’s also a march planned.
On May Day 2008, longshore workers and other trade unionists will join together in a march starting at 10:30 AM at Mason St. & Beach St. and will rally at the Justin Herman Plaza. They will also join with the immigrant rights marchers. At 6:00 PM there will be a potluck at ILWU Local 34 which is located at 2nd St and Embarcadero next to the AT&T ball park.
No Trackbacks To “ILWU shuts down West Coast ports in War protest“
First.
How about another Million Man March against the War?
Good for them!
Aaron, if you don’t remember, there was one of the biggest protest marches EVER on this planet BEFORE the war started, and the media ignored it.
Marches don’t have any political traction anymore. They just seem to attract goofballs and morons who treat the marches as a good time to party.
sweet. Seattles gonna be a mess today-the port’s shut and there are three big marches getting ready to start, then converging downtown.
I guess it’s a good thing those big rigs won’t be driving around.
I’m the son of a longshoreman.
After seeing unions and union workers take it in the neck since 1980, this is a GREAT DAY.
Good for them!!
Be Patriotic: DON’T shop.
My hat is off to the men and women of the ILWU. Way to go!
I’ve long thought it’s about time for another General Strike (more to protest the outsourcing than the war, but hey, whatever reminds the pols that we the people are the ones in charge).
Daniel W. @ 7:
Mine, too! Finally, civil resistance with tooth in protest of the war!
My grandfather was a longshoreman (and was actually in a few crowd scenes in ON THE WATERFRONT). I’m very proud on his behalf. As Liberal and Proud said, hooray for our unions!
So, apparently not ALL blue collar workers are going to vote for McWar.
Good for them and I hope they keep in mind which ones of the candidates were in favor of the war from the beginning.
I also wish I could believe their efforts will make a difference. Remember before the war countries around the world held giant protests against it and their protests were just blown off.
Awesome.
This is why the corporate overlords don’t want to have to deal with pesky citizens anymore. Sooo…. they want to send the Chinese (and other Asian) imports in through Mexico and bring them up the “NAFTA highway”, presently being sold as Keep Texas Moving.
Sweet!!!!
This is fucking GREAT news!!!!
My hats off to these fine Americans as well!
Who cares about this crap. I want to know what Reverend Wright is up to. (Sarcastic)
Good for the long shoreman! Let’s see corporate Amerika just try and ship their jobs overseas.
Now these folks are demonstrating what true patriotism is all about.
Once Bush hears about this, he will send all the troops home, right away. Yeah.
Whatever.
As a CUPE brother in BC I tip my hat to you guys. Well done,but make sure you keep aware of the blackshirts in case they decide to drop in uninvited.
MSM cover this? I am out of the country.
Forget marches, protests that are ignored. This is what will work, hit them in the POCKETBOOK. The same place the bums are getting us. Shut down commerce for a couple days and see what happens.
DC @ 21:
I haven’t seen anything about it but I haven’t been near the tv all day, just once in a while.
DC @ 21:
NYTimes, LA Times, Reuters, AP…
b-b-but PMA is mad!!!
“We are very disappointed and angry about the event,” PMA spokesman, Steve Getzug, told LM today.
is democracy spoiling your profit margin steve?
I’m pleased that the longshoreman have taken a stance, however, with our economy on the brink of financial disaster, anything that shocks the economy could trigger economic depression.
We really need to be smart about how we handle ourselves “as a nation” over the course of the next few years.
A general strike affecting the entire west coast shipping, would be a very very bad thing.
The moron’s in washington (congress specifically, the president is secondary), have done so much damage to our economy, we really can’t take any more significant hits.
Keep that in mind please.
Captain Bitter Elitist Hussein Kangaroo @ 16:
Yeah! I bet Wright is converting white xtian women to Islam. And selling dope to grade schoolers disguised as a nun!
Fabulous!!!!!
MORE UNIONS NOW.
Dan-in-PA @ 26:
Perhaps, but the aggression itself was committed for our “economic benefit” (oil), and that selfish shit needs to stop.
6 Harold Clark Says: Be Patriotic: DON’T shop.
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Hear hear. It’s the fastest way to get their attention; moreso than protests!!!! But both are cool with me. Heck: do both, and keep nagging your Reps.
[Deleted. Off topic-Sitemonitor]
I haven’t seen any mention of this strike on CNN or MSNBC. I sent an E-mail to CNN criticizing them of not complying with their licensing mandate to provide service to the public. I accused them of censoring the news because of its anti-war stance. I also stated that the public should have the ability to rescind a corporation’s license by initiative. In CNN’s case it would involve a national referendum. A Republican FCC has proven its reluctance to support the interests of the public.
26 Dan-in-PA Says: I’m pleased that the longshoreman have taken a stance, however, with our economy on the brink of financial disaster, anything that shocks the economy could trigger economic depression.
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Put down the Kool-Aid. Turn off the TV.
Dan-in-PA @ 26:
the point is to make it hurt.
the war is THE biggest drag on the economy. if there is a general work shut down that creates enough political pressure (due to economic pressure) to actually help shut down the iraq-money pit then i say good.
the problem, as i see it, is that the standard protests and marches are simple for the eilte to ignore. i think this is the only type of protest that actually makes a difference. which is the point, or at least it should be.
the politicians and the corporations ignore the will of the people and, from time to time, the people actually say ‘no, fuck you, you will listen to us. NOW’
tips hat to ILWU
Meanwhile, as of 2:22 MDT, no mention of this on CNN’s main webpage. However, “Is the future of TV on the Web?” is listed among the “latest news”.
Dan-in-PA @ 26:
Remember which party still has enough votes to block all progress. (Hint: It aint the Democrats)
I see this hastening the superhighway from Mexico. I foresee businesses trying to bring goods up thru mexico and bypassing the union workers. Keep voting republican dumbasses and keep losing jobs to foreigners. Democrats may not be that good either but they are a thousand times better than republicans when it comes to saving US jobs.
[Deleted. Off topic-Sitemonitor]
6 Harold Clark Says: Be Patriotic: DON’T shop.
Sorry dude, but I have to make a beer stop on the way home.
Workers of the World Unite!
With this news today, the ILWU of both my father and mother in the forties, fifties and sixties…is the ILWU of my father and mother. This union has a history of courageous and progressive social work and should be thanked.
Petro@29…
“Perhaps, but the aggression itself was committed for our “economic benefit” (oil), and that selfish shit needs to stop.”
I had to comment because this is the dummest comment I have read all year!!
Bush started this war so my gas prices would stay low? When you say “OUR benifit” it makes me think you have some potential financial gain from this war or that you are mentaly retarded.
Bet we don’t see the police pushing these guys around like they did the mexicans in LA. Good show, we need these people with us! These are the kind of things that hit the rat bastards right where it hurts.—-CEO
Tom A. @ 35:
Or this gem: “Barbara Walters: I had affair with U.S. senator”
Everyone needs to make a quick call IN SUPPORT of what this union is doing!!!
They’re facing the threat of legal action for STANDING UP TO CORPORATE POWER!
They need to hear that millions of Americans are fed up and we’re not taking it anymore..
This war has to end NOW!!
Call them…it only takes a minute and your participation is the fuel that will make things
like this happen across the country!
[Deleted. Let people look it up. Putting it in the post just makes it too easy for the hatas-Sitemonitor]
Leaveus @ 42:
Just because the foolish scheme failed doesn’t change the initial motivation. What other strategic interest do you think think we might have in the ME? It’s always economic…
Interesting and impressive. At the very least, this move by the ILWU demonstrates that the American people potentially have vast reserves of grassroots power at their disposal, provided that we’re creative and motivated enough to tap it. Considering how many of our Congresscritters seem to have forgotten the fact that they’re supposed to be serving all of us instead of the other way around and/or only serving those select few with large amounts of ready cash, it occurs to me that grassroots movements like this may be one of the only remaining options left to us if we want to have any hope of bringing about change in this country.
“A small group of thoughtful people could change the world…indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” (Margaret Mead)
Dan-in-PA @ 26:
Your”concern” is duly noted.
Awesome!! There are still plenty of good folks who care enough to stand up for their country out there.
watched a little bit of cable news today. Nothing about this strike. But they did cover immigration protests.
Go Union!
McCain the Liar @ 37:
Nothing to worry about there. Because we, the U.S. have to import so much “stuff” (because we don’t make anything anymore) all the ports are running at full speed, maximum strength, full potential, 100% capacity. Whatever you want to call it. They need the “super Highway” from Mexico to keep up capacity otherwise we will not have the cheap cloths and shitty contaminated food and pharma drugs. You can bet that if this ‘super highway” was any threat to the dock workers you would have heard about it loud and clear.
Captain Bitter Elitist Hussein Kangaroo @ 16:
Yeah, and if Paula is still confused and whether or not Brooke is still crying!
Will this protest slow down the shipments of cheap plastic shit going to Wal-mart?
We can only hope.